UCPN (Maoist) and CPN-Maoist unification process begins

Kathmandu, March 15: The unification process of the UCPN (Maoist) and CPN-Maoist has moved ahead formally as the leaders of both the parties have agreed to form a high-level talk team for the unification bid.

CPN-Maoist chairman Mohan Baidya with his party leaders had reached UCPN (Maoist) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal's residence at Lazimpat today for a meeting regarding the unification process of the two Maoist parties.

The meeting has decided to form a dialogue team comprising top leaders from both the parties to give the concrete shape for the purpose. The dialogue team comprises Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, senior leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai, Vice-chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha, general secretary Krishna Bahadur Mahara and secretary Top Bahadur Rayamajhi from the UCPN (Maoist) and Chairman Mohan Baidya, Vice-chairman CP Gajurel, general secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa and secretary Dev Gurung from the CPN-Maoist.

The team is assigned to prepare a foundation for the unification by forging consensus on organizational structure and allocating the responsibility.

Issuing a joint press statement, Chairmen Dahal and Baidhya said that they were ready to go for protest against regression, rising anti-people's movement and so on.

The press statement further reads that the recent activities of the government after the formation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the Commission on Enforced Disappeared were not positive and the parties have decided to go in protest against their provisions.

The meeting of the parties on Friday had decided to take the unification process in its logical conclusion.

"The unification process is need of the hour as the main partner of the peace process has been excluded and the agendas of changes were at risk," reads the statement.

Prior to this, CPN –Maoist had presented a six-point proposal to UCPN (Maoist) for the party unification and UCPN (Maoist) had welcomed it.

UCPN (Maoist) standing committee member Janardan Sharma said that unification process began as some of the youth leaders from both parties were taking initiative for this process, confirmed the UCPN (Maoist) leader Janardan Sharma.

As many as five Maoist parties have been formed after the former rebel party came in the peace process.

Recently, Netra Bikram Chand 'Biplav' has formed a separate party after a breakaway from the Baidhya-led CPN-Maoist.